News Editor- Jenna Anderson

In March 2026, former Gustavus Professor Aaron Banks was arrested under charges of felony theft and felony possession of burglary or theft tools. When The Weekly last reported on the trial, it was still ongoing. This article is being published not to sensationalize, but to give an update on the trial for members of the Gustavus community who may be wondering.

Banks was arrested on March 14th, 2026, for allegedly stealing $1299.84 of merchandise from the Eden Prairie Scheels sporting goods store. This included boxes of ammunition, AR-15 triggers, and an AR-15 charging handle. The case was formally concluded on August 26th, 2026, when Banks was convicted of felony theft, according to Hennepin County District Court.

Banks was sentenced to four days of confinement in the Hennepin County Workhouse, along with three years of supervised probation, according to the sentencing order by Judge Maximillia Utley. Banks’ probation period requires he comply with a number of conditions, including completing cognitive skill training, not possessing firearms, ammunition, or explosives, staying away from the Eden Prairie Scheels store, remaining law abiding, and others. 

The sentencing was made public by Hennepin County District Court after the in-person hearing on August 26th, 2026. Details about the incident are available in the previous article about Banks’ arrest, found in the March 27th edition of the Gustavian Weekly at weekly.blog.gustavus.edu.